The highly anticipated article spotlighting LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey finally made its debut in The Washington Post on Saturday. Rather than the critical exposé Mulkey had braced herself for, Kent Babb’s piece turned out to be a thoughtful profile, delving into the influences and experiences that shaped Mulkey into the accomplished coach she is today, boasting four national championships.
One such influence was the iconic Pat Summitt, former coach of Tennessee, who showed Mulkey that excelling in basketball and nurturing a family could go hand in hand.
Summitt’s example inspired Mulkey to integrate her own children into her coaching life from the outset, even taking her daughter Makenzie on recruiting trips when she was only two weeks old and breastfeeding her son Kramer before and after practices and games.
Kim Mulkey reacts to the Washington Post article that was published about her life and career.
"Are you really surprised by the timing of it?" pic.twitter.com/4u09EViWHr
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 30, 2024
Despite the anticipation surrounding the article, Mulkey made it clear that she had no intention of reading it, regardless of its content. Speaking to ESPN’s Holly Rowe before LSU’s Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA, Mulkey expressed her lack of surprise at the timing of the article’s release and stated her decision to leave it to her attorneys, indicating a readiness to take legal action if necessary.
Prior to its publication, Mulkey had already hinted at potential legal recourse against The Washington Post if the story contained falsehoods. She anticipated the article to be unfavorable, citing conversations the author, Babb, had with former players who may harbor grievances against her.
One such player, Emily Niemann, who played under Mulkey at Baylor from 2003-05, initially felt uncomfortable as a gay woman on campus and perceived Mulkey as excessively demanding.
Despite leaving Baylor after her sophomore year, Niemann returned for a celebration of the team’s 2005 national championship, where she thanked Mulkey for her positive influence and expressed regret over their previous discord. However, Niemann was met with silence from Mulkey, who walked away without a response.
Kim Mulkey just directly referenced and criticized an LA Times article that called LSU villians, calling the commentary sexist and unfair.
"I'm not going to let you attack young people… it was so sexist… evil… Called us dirty debutantes? How dare you?" pic.twitter.com/mPylnPnFFV
— Gavin Carlson (@GavinCarlsonDB) March 30, 2024
Since its release, the article has garnered largely positive reactions on social media. While some aspects may not paint Mulkey in the best light, the overall consensus is that the piece is fair and far from an attack. Ironically, Mulkey’s objections may draw more attention to the article than if she had chosen not to comment on it at all.
Following LSU’s victory over UCLA, Mulkey feigned ignorance about the publication of the Post piece when questioned, only to sarcastically acknowledge its timing before dismissing it as a ploy for attention or clicks.
In a subsequent postgame news conference, Mulkey redirected her frustration towards another newspaper article, singling out a Los Angeles Times column that labeled LSU as “villains.” She condemned the commentary as sexist and unfair, defending her team and denouncing the derogatory characterization.
UCLA head coach Cori Close, seemingly referencing the Times story, issued a postgame apology on social media for sharing the column without fully reading its contents, expressing regret for inadvertently promoting content that could undermine individuals in the basketball community.
Despite the distractions, LSU remains focused on their upcoming Elite Eight matchup against Iowa, setting the stage for a rematch of last year’s national championship game.
